Arts Commission sees new blood

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Mayor Gavin Newsom’s two appointees to the Arts Commission, Barbara Sklar and Astrid Haryati, became official Tuesday after the Board of Supervisors approved one in a 7-4 vote and didn’t act on the latter after a vote to reject Haryati’s appointment failed by one vote.

It takes eight votes to reject the appointment.

Some members objected to Haryati’s appointment since she is already Newsom’s greening czar. Others said the appointments were of people too close to City Hall, essentially ignoring a segment of The City’s diverse artistic community.

Dede Wilsey, the matron of the renovated De Young Museum, and Jeannene Przyblyski, wife of former Newsom advisor Eric Jaye, resigned from the Arts Commission in July.

At the time, Wilsey did not provide a reason for her resignation, but it came on the same day Przyblyski sent a detailed letter blaming open-government legislation for her departure. The legislation requires the commissioners to provide a detailed disclosure of their economic interests, as required by other public officials. It was introduced by Supervisor Chris Daly and signed into law by Newsom.